Building open tech for public good

Around the world, communities are grappling with intensifying droughts, growing water scarcity, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. These crises threaten food security, strain local economies, and demand faster, more informed responses. Meeting these challenges depends not only on physical resources but also on information: accurate, timely, and accessible data. Digital systems increasingly provide the backbone for generating, sharing, and acting on this information. But this growing influence raises urgent questions about who controls these systems, how they are built, and who they serve. As the risks of closed, proprietary, and extractive tech models grow, so does the urgency to create open, collaborative, and adaptable technologies designed for impact, not profit.  

Since Akvo’s inception in 2006, we’ve evolved from developing some of the first open-source tools for the WASH sector to co-creating digital solutions across agriculture, climate, and water. Partnering with governments and organisations worldwide, we support them in using data to drive decision making and achieve sustainable impact across these sectors. 

Today, we’ve developed a suite of modular, interoperable digital products, each grounded in real-world use and designed with public ownership in mind. Our approach is collaborative - we work with and for our partners, and we remain committed to building openly, and with purpose. 

In this blog, we’re sharing an overview of our product suites and a look at what’s next. Not because it's final, but because it’s open. We invite your feedback, your questions, and your collaboration.

Our tech vision

Open source, open data, open innovation All of our products are open source, built using open technologies and standards. There are no license fees or vendor lock-ins. They can be locally hosted, are well-documented, and freely available to anyone who wants to adapt or build on them. This approach isn’t just rooted in principle - it’s a practical foundation for digital sovereignty.   We help transform data into knowledge, and knowledge into agency. Whether we’re supporting smallholder farmers or government ministries, our goal is to get the right data into the hands of the people who can act on it. We share datasets wherever privacy and ethics allow, and we encourage responsible data stewardship across all our projects.   Innovation happens when diverse actors collaborate - citizens, government, researchers, engineers. We build on existing tools and we partner where it makes sense. And increasingly, we’re opening up our product roadmap to shape what comes next, together with the people who use our tools.

Modular, adaptable, and interoperable by design We don’t build generic platforms or isolated apps. We design modular, adaptable products that work together. Our approach is grounded in flexibility: we combine the speed and cost-efficiency of pre-built, open-source tools with the ability to tailor solutions to specific local and sectoral needs.    We design for interoperability by default and by design - providing APIs to break down data silos and enable cross-sector insights. Our technology stack is widely adopted and infrastructure-agnostic, supporting local hosting and ownership wherever needed.

We build Digital Public Goods and support Digital Public Infrastructures We believe Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) and Digital Public Goods (DPGs) are essential to building more inclusive, resilient societies. DPIs are foundational systems and services - like identity frameworks, payment systems, and data exchange protocols - that enable governments, businesses, and civil society to deliver digital services efficiently, securely, and equitably. DPGs are open-source tools - such as software, data, AI models, and standards - that are free to use, adaptable, and built with privacy and legal safeguards in mind. We build reusable, locally adaptable tools that can be hosted, extended, and governed by the communities that use them.    This ensures governments and civil society organisations can maintain digital sovereignty while avoiding vendor lock-in. By designing for openness and reuse from the ground up, we contribute to a growing global ecosystem of DPGs - reducing fragmentation, promoting shared digital building blocks, and supporting public institutions in delivering effective, equitable digital services.

We respond to real world challenges We don’t build technology for technology’s sake. Every product we design begins with a deep understanding of the challenges our partners face on the ground. In agriculture, it's the lack of access to data for millions of smallholder farmers. In WASH, it's the fragmentation of systems and the disconnect between investments and long-term impact. In climate, it's the absence of local voices in global decisions. We work closely with stakeholders to translate these complex challenges into simple, actionable tools. Our role is not just to code solutions, but to co-create them - building on local knowledge, aligning with national strategies, and delivering tools that work in the real world, not just on paper.

Introducing our product suites

💧 Akvo WaterStack

The challenge

The water sector faces persistent barriers: data is fragmented and siloed, systems can’t talk to each other, and stakeholders struggle to coordinate effectively. The result is misallocated resources, and billions of dollars in wasted investment, leaving communities without reliable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

Our vision

We envision a water sector powered by connected, interoperable data systems. With accessible, shared information, governments, communities, and organisations can make smarter decisions, target investments where they matter most, and strengthen accountability, transforming water from fragmented projects into lasting, impactful programs.

Our interoperable tools

Water Planner

Transforms raw data into actionable insights for smarter prioritisation, planning, and resource allocation. It integrates climate and infrastructure datasets, models infrastructure functionality and service coverage, and supports scenario analysis. WASH Planner can seamlessly connect with MIS for local data, or leverage global datasets tailored for donors and partners, enabling evidence-based decision-making at all levels.

Water Management Information System (MIS)

A central hub for harmonising WASH data across public and private sectors, tracking infrastructure, households, schools, and health facilities. The system supports mobile and web data entry, including offline field collection, and collects longitudinal data over time. Automated validation workflows and multi-level approvals ensure data quality, while dashboards, interactive maps, and reporting tools provide real-time insights, geographical context, and flexible reporting for evidence-based decision-making.

Water Data Exchange

A secure global platform for storing and sharing WASH/WRM data according to international standards (JMP, GLAAS, WPDx, ETC). All stakeholders (public, private, NGOs, communities) can contribute to strengthening the global WASH/IWRM statistical corpus. The Data Exchange also provides role-based access, audit trails, and integration with existing systems, ensuring data flows efficiently while maintaining quality and security.

Unique Water ID

A national registry that issues and manages unique identifiers for every water resource in the country. It is a fundamental building block for rational resource management. The registry allows any public or private entity to design all sorts of products and services in an interoperable and open manner.

The impact

Together, these tools turn fragmented systems into a connected, data-driven ecosystem, supporting better decisions, optimising resources, and delivering sustainable WASH services where they’re needed most.

🌱 Akvo AgriStack

The challenge

Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in global food chains but remain among the poorest groups in the world. They often lack access to timely, relevant data on the one hand, and have limited insights into their own data (records) on the other. This two way information gap means that actors across the food system struggle to collect, share, and use data effectively. Fragmented systems, limited connectivity, and complex tools make it hard to turn data into improved livelihoods and meaningful business intelligence - slowing progress toward innovation, resilience, and equity across the agriculture sector.

Our vision

We envision a food and agricultural system where information flows seamlessly from upstream to downstream and vice versa - empowering food system actors to professionalise and make confident, data-driven decisions. By simplifying data coming from the main agri actors (SHF) and at the same time improving access to reliable data and turning it into actionable insights, we aim to connect stakeholders, strengthen collaboration, and build resilient, sustainable food systems.

Our interoperable tools

AI-based Recordkeeping

Proper and sound recordkeeping lies at the basis of insights in farmer agronomic practices and farmer economics, but smallholder farmers struggle to do this for various reasons. This AI-driven tool simplifies the process by enabling both farmers and extension workers to record data through voice or text, seamlessly integrated into a broader data ecosystem. By digitising recordkeeping, it empowers farmers to become more connected and data-savvy, improving their access to finance, information, and support services.

AgriConnect

Agriconnect is a highly configurable information platform that connects farmers, extension officers, and other food system stakeholders. It hosts a rich agricultural knowledge base - including GAP guidelines, soil maps, and pesticide lists - and enables two-way communication between farmers and extension officers. Farmers send questions, images, or voice notes; extension officers reply through a mobile app with AI-assisted, multilingual, and analytic features for efficient information exchange. By democratising data, AgriConnect empowers smallholder farmers and strengthens the entire food system.

Farmer Cooperative Platform

Strengthens the cooperatives in a specific commodity and/or country. Supports cooperatives in managing data, communicating with members, tracking market information, and improving transparency. This platform strengthens decision-making and governance, helping cooperatives better serve their members.

Living Income Platform

Helps organisations understand and improve smallholder incomes. Includes tools for data collection, scenario modelling, and benchmarking against living income standards - enabling targeted, evidence-based interventions that increase impact. Contextualisation is crucial here and therefore an essential part in the design, scoping, and analytics phase of data collection.

The impact

Together, these tools transform fragmented agricultural systems into a connected, data-driven ecosystem - empowering farmers to make informed choices, improving incomes, and strengthening the networks that support them. They contribute to resilient, inclusive, and well-functioning food systems.

🌍 Akvo ClimateStack

The challenge

Global climate decision-making often misses local perspectives. Too often, strategies are shaped by global datasets rather than the lived realities and knowledge of communities. To make a lasting impact, climate solutions must be contextualised, co-created, and built on existing capacities - enabling genuine local ownership and relevance.

Our vision

We envision a climate system where local insights, open data, and collaborative tools drive better decisions. By connecting citizens, organisations, and governments, we can ensure climate actions are informed, inclusive, and responsive - building resilient, sustainable systems that address both global and local challenges.

Our interoperable tools

Early Warning Systems

We co-develop and operationalise integrated early warning systems that streamline data collection, analysis, validation, and dissemination across multiple hazards (e.g. droughts, floods, etc). These systems combine Earth Observation (EO) data with validation loops, citizen sensing, and community feedback - ensuring accurate, contextualised insights and local ownership.

Digital Monitoring Reporting and Verification (dMRV)

Our platform blends ground data, sensors, and satellites to digitise carbon monitoring and verification. It powers payments, certification, and climate finance, connecting investors, banks, and donors directly to local realities. Designed for transparency, trust, and scalable impact, it accelerates the flow of verified climate finance to rehabilitating degraded and deforested lands, creating livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Climate Brokerage Platform

We co-develop digital platforms that connect people, data, and services to catalyse climate action. These platforms help clients build meaningful partnerships, link investors with opportunities, and drive informed decisions for both mitigation and adaptation. By leveraging open-source technology, automation, and intuitive design, they adapt to users’ evolving needs while ensuring lasting accessibility, reliability, and impact.

The impact

Akvo ClimateStack transforms fragmented climate efforts into open, connected systems that empower local action and global accountability. Built on open-source technology and designed as digital public goods, these systems deliver trusted, transparent, and scalable solutions - turning data into decisions, and decisions into lasting climate resilience.

Open Core business model

Openness is in our DNA. All of our core code is open source. But building and maintaining quality software isn’t free, and neither is deploying it sustainably in real-world environments. In our sector, there’s often a heavy reliance on back donors, which can prevent countries and communities from truly owning and controlling their digital systems, and hinder long-term adoption.

That’s why Akvo follows an Open Core business model. We offer a robust set of core features addressing the most common challenges for free, while providing a range of paid premium features tailored to more complex or specific needs. These paid features allow us to sustain, expand, and continually improve the free offering.

This model means that we can deliver high-quality, purpose-driven products that evolve with the sector, without compromising on equity, transparency, or sustainability.

This is a roadmap, not a destination

None of these product suites are final. They're being developed in collaboration with partners, and shaped by real-world contexts and needs.

If you're involved in building digital systems for public good - whether you're in government, a farmer’s cooperative, a ministry, a donor organisation, or part of the developer community - we’d like to hear from you.

The future of digital infrastructure isn't pre-made. It's built together - openly, and with purpose.